RECORD OF SERVICE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 74, 1 September 1947, Page 4

RECORD OF SERVICE

DAIRY COMPANY’S CHAIRMAN MR W. A. McCRACKEN’S RETIREMENT Eulogistic references to the magnificent term of service by the Chairman of Directors (Mr W. A. McCracken) were conveyed by speakers at the annual meeting of Suppliers to the Ranr gitaiki Plains Dairy Company at Edgecumbe last Thursday. Mr McCracken who has enjoyed an unbroken term of twenty-one years as chairman, has had the pleasure of seeing the company ■ grow from its modest beginning to one of the greatest coo-pera-tive concerns in dairying in the Dominion.

Referring to his retirement, Mr McMcCracken in his report stated: “As this is my last year as Chairman of Directors and as a Director of the Dairy Company, I take the opportunity of expressing my sincere thanks to the Directors, Shareholders, and Members of, the Staff for their co-operation and assistance, and for the confidence and goodwill extended to me during a fairly long term as Chairman of the Rangitaiki' Plains Dairy Company. I wish my successor, the Board of Directors, Shareholders and Staff, the utmost success and happiness in the years to come. In particular I hope that those associated with .the future administration of the Dairy Company will find that past Directors and my good friends on the exising Board, have played their full part in maintaining the Company’s Assets to the best possible advantage and in building our organisation on a comprehensive, efficient and firm foundation.” Mr C. A. Le Leivre in moving a hearty vote of thanks, said that suppliers appreciated his decision, to retire in order to make room for a younger man, in spite of the fact that he had still many years of active life and service ahead of him. No. one could have given greater service to the company than Mr McCracken, and he recommended to the Directorate that a suitable occasion be fixed when a more personal tribute could be paid him by the shareholders who without exception held him in the highest regard. Mr Robins identified himself with the previous speaker’s remarks adding that Mr McCracken, was ever aproachable and had fostered the interests of' the company faithfully and well.

Other speakers were Messrs. J. Neilsen, R. Cleland and R. Relf. ' Responding, Mr McCracken said he would not disguise his regret at leaving the office in which he had been privileged to nerve for so long. He felt howeven that the interests of suppliers would be well looked after by his successor and the directors. His associations with the company, staff and suppliers had ever been of the most cordial nature and there had been comparatively few changes in connection with the management. There were still some of the ,directors on the Board who were there when he was elected. If he had given service and satisfaction he was doubly pleased but the progress of the company was due op the main to the team--work of everybody, and in that connection he thanked again the directors, managerial staff and the workers for their loyalty. , The meeting broke with i cheers and musical honours for Mr .McCracken on the call of Mr Don Butler. 1